Japan declares 'nuclear emergency' after quake

The operator of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant reported an abnormality Friday following a powerful earthquake which hit a wide area in northeastern
Japan including Fukushima Prefecture, the industry ministry said.

The system to cool reactor cores in case of emergency stopped at the No. 1 and No. 2 reactors of the plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co., it
said.

There are reports that the Japanese PM will declare a nuclear emergency.

Update 1: There's no evidence of any radioactive leakage, but officials have confirmed that the cooling process for the nuclear plant has not yet gone
according to plan.

Update 2: Japan has declared a nuclear emergency.

Update 3: 2000 residents near the Fukushima Nuclear Plant have been urged to evacuate.

Update 4: According to reports, Japanese jets have been ordered to fly over the Fukushima Nuclear plant

Update 5: According to Reuters, a Dam has broken in the same region as the at-risk nuclear power plant.

Update 6: The owner of the plant, TEPCO, says the reactor pressure is rising, and there are risks of a radiation leak, according to Reuters.

Update 7: Now the trade minister says a leak is possible.

Update 8: Word is, Japanese authorities will release a small amount of radioactive vapor into the air to ease pressure.

“The electrical grid is down. The emergency diesel generators have been damaged. The multi-reactor Fukushima atomic power plant is now relying on
battery power, which will only last around eight hours. The danger is, the very thermally hot reactor cores at the plant must be continuously cooled
for 24 to 48 hours. Without any electricity, the pumps won’t be able to pump water through the hot reactor cores to cool them. Once electricity is
lost, the irradiated nuclear fuel could begin to melt down. If the containment systems fail, a catastrophic radioactivity release to the environment
could occur.

“In addition to the reactor cores, the storage pool for highly radioactive irradiated nuclear fuel is also at risk. The pool cooling water must be
continuously circulated. Without circulation, the still thermally hot irradiated nuclear fuel in the storage pools will begin to boil off the cooling
water. Within a day or two, the pool’s water could completely boil away. Without cooling water, the irradiated nuclear fuel could spontaneously
combust in an exothermic reaction. Since the storage pools are not located within containment, a catastrophic radioactivity release to the environment
could occur. Up to 100 percent of the volatile radioactive Cesium-137 content of the pools could go up in flames and smoke, to blow downwind over
large distances. Given the large quantity of irradiated nuclear fuel in the pool, the radioactivity release could be worse than the Chernobyl nuclear
reactor catastrophe of 25 years ago.”

Meanwhile, Kyodo is reporting that local radiation levels are 8 times more than normal.

Update 4:43 PM: Now according to Kyodo, radiation is measured at 1000x normal.

Update 5:05: The entire world is now watching the Fukushima plant. Here's a llink to a satellite image of the plant, just to get some more perspective
on where this is:

Update 5:33: Both reactors at the plant have been damaged, and officials say they have "lost control" of the pressure, according to Reuters.

Update 7:39: The latest from Kyodo Wire: Government holds emergency meeting on the plant, and is taking unprecedented stap of demanding the plant open
a key valve.

Japan's nuclear safety agency is set to issue an unprecedented order for Tokyo Electric Power Co. to open a valve at the troubled Fukushima No. 1
nuclear power plant to release pressure following a powerful earthquake, it said Saturday. english.kyodonews.jp...

Update 7:51: At least 20,000 people are being evacuated from the region says Reuters, which ominously quotes an expert who thinks there may be just a
few hours until meltdown.

Yeah, a while back they widened the evacuation area from 3 kilometers to 6 kilometers. If we see them widen it even further, that's probably not a
good sign. There's obviously US involvement (started earlier today) trying to provide any support/help we can give them (additional "coolant" =
presumably heavy-water), etc. So, sounds like it's a full-court-press pulling-out all the stops
on this - what they would have called in WWII a "maximum effort".

Originally posted by jude11
Original post: Ominous flash from Kyodo Wire:
Update 5:33: Both reactors at the plant have been damaged, and officials say they have "lost control" of the pressure, according to Reuters.
Read more: www.businessinsider.com...

Originally posted by jude11
Original post: Ominous flash from Kyodo Wire:
Update 5:33: Both reactors at the plant have been damaged, and officials say they have "lost control" of the pressure, according to Reuters.
Read more: www.businessinsider.com...

This is probably an outside comment to make, but if there were a meltdown in Japan, obviously they would be severely affected, however what about the
rest of the world? surely there would be knock on effects ?

That article makes it sound like everything is fine now, but the businessinsider link said they had lost control...I'm confused.

TPTB want us confused over this and everything else that is happening and/or coming. That's why we all work together to suss out all info and come to
our own conclusions.

Personally, I will believe Businessinsider as they have nothing to gain by us knowing.

I know they want us confused, I just turned to the MSM channels to see what they're saying. Sometimes it amazes me how on top of stuff ATS as a whole
stays on events going on worldwide. I just pray for those already suffering from the floods, fire, and quakes, that they don't have to deal with a
meltdown...talk about kiciking a dog when it's down.

Originally posted by solargeddon
This is probably an outside comment to make, but if there were a meltdown in Japan, obviously they would be severely affected, however what about the
rest of the world? surely there would be knock on effects ?

Your maps a little small, the whole world was affected. Here in Cumbria, UK, it's only recently (last 10-15 years) all traces of radiation from
Chernobyl have finally vanished from the tops of (some of) the fells!

EDIT: To say, not having a pop, just pointing it out

edit on 11/3/11 by woogleuk because: (no reason given)

Second edit: To embed the image it either has to be uploaded to your ATS media page or to imageshack, not sure which other image hosting are
supported for embedding.

Just an update as far as the MSM goes, all they reported was a release of a small amount of radioactive vapor and then moved on and that was CNN. Fox
isn't even talking about anything Japan related, been talking about Libya and Saudi Arabia. HLN is talking about Mel Gibson.

Originally posted by Kennypowers
Just an update as far as the MSM goes, all they reported was a release of a small amount of radioactive vapor and then moved on and that was CNN. Fox
isn't even talking about anything Japan related, been talking about Libya and Saudi Arabia. HLN is talking about Mel Gibson.

What more can these poor people take today. Now word is that the Sakurajima volcano has had a major eruption. Will not speak for the authenticity of
the following video, but if it's legit than God help them.

Originally posted by Kennypowers
Just an update as far as the MSM goes, all they reported was a release of a small amount of radioactive vapor and then moved on and that was CNN. Fox
isn't even talking about anything Japan related, been talking about Libya and Saudi Arabia. HLN is talking about Mel Gibson.

At least I'm not seeing Charlie Sheen anywhere.

yea the G8, or other powerful organizations associated with the world powers, are Def. Hushing any sounds of radiative waste falling upon civilians.

Thanks wasn't aware of the third, although thanks is probably not the best word considering the situation at hand. Scary is the only word coming to
mind right now. Once released this will effect us all sadly. I can't help but scratch my head as to the logic of using nuclear power in an area prone
to seismic activity though? Ahh guess just another thing in life where hind sight is 20/20.

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